Titus 2:6 “Likewise exhort the young men to be sober-minded,”
One of my favorite movies is Second Hand Lions and one of my favorite moments is when Hub, played by Robert Duval, gives to a group of young punk boys (teenagers) the MAN SPEECH. Now while we don’t hear what is said as he delivers the MAN SPEECH we do find in Titus 2 the Apostle Paul (the writer of Titus) giving Titus the “MAN SPEECH” or the “Mentoring Speech” (see verse 1 below). After speaking to Titus, Paul gives the expectations of behavior for older men and old women (verses 2 and 3). He then tells the older women to give the MENTORING speech to the younger women (admonish is to speak into the mind) (verses 4-5). He then gives the MAN speech to the older men to give the younger men the MAN speech (verse 6) before (as I understand it) returning to mentoring Titus on his responsibilities.
(Titus 2:1 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:
2 that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience;
3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things
—4 that they (older women) admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. 6 Likewise (older men) exhort the young men to be sober-minded,”
While we see just one word for the young men the Apostle Paul has chosen a very rich word for how a young man is to handle himself. While we have form the NKJV “sober-minded” other translations will use the words SELF CONTROL; SENSIBLE; PRUDENT; or TEMPERATE. In other words, to be sober-minded is to have control over your decisions. The sober-minded is self-disciplined. They know how to LEAD themselves. As well they THINK before DOING. They are discerning. They are prudent. I have described the word PRUDENT as one who carefully considers the consequences of a choice.
In mentoring my sons, as well as the numerous opportunities I had in college ministry Titus 2:6 was a foundational block. To the parents reading this you are to teach your son(s) to be sober-minded. They are to learn to be responsible and their first responsibility is to be responsible for themselves. Teach them Proverbs 25:28 which says, “Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls.” Teach them to follow the example of the apostle Paul from 1 Corinthians 9:27 as he stated “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection”
Why is this so important? Because when a person makes their choice their choice then makes them. Whatsoever a man (young men) sow they will also reap! (Gal. 6:7) Being sober-minded, having self-control, is an ESSENTIAL for living a good and godly life!
Have you learned to control yourself? As my friend Jay Strack says, “It is time for the boy to sit down and the MAN to stand up!
This idea of being sober, sober-minded is a central theme of both Paul and Peter
1 Thessalonians 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
1 Thessalonians 5:8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and [as] a helmet the hope of salvation.
1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
Titus 1:8 For a bishop is to be hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled,
Titus 2:2 that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience;
Titus 2:6 Likewise exhort the young men to be sober-minded,
1 Peter 1:13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Continue Strong with SELF-CONTROL,
And Remember to Date the Word